Nonvolatile memory apparatus and method for processing configuration information thereof

Abstract

A nonvolatile memory apparatus includes a memory device including a configuration information storage block for storing configuration data groups. A configuration information processing circuit is configured to determine majorities of configuration data groups, which are outputted from the memory device during a first period as an initial stage of a power-up operation, under the control of a first control clock signal. The configuration information processing circuit is also configured to determine majorities of configuration data groups, which are outputted from the memory device during a second period after the first period, under the control of a second control clock signal having a cycle shorter than the first control clock signal.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A nonvolatile memory apparatus comprising:
 a memory device including a configuration information storage block for storing a plurality of configuration data groups and providing the plurality of configuration data groups during a first period of a power-up operation and a second period after the first period; and 
 a configuration information processing circuit configured to determine majorities of configuration data groups of the plurality of configuration data groups received from the memory device during the first period of the power-up operation, under the control of a first control clock signal, and determine majorities of configuration data groups of the plurality of configuration data groups received from the memory device during the second period after the first period, under the control of a second control clock signal having a cycle shorter than the first control clock signal. 
 
     
     
       2. The nonvolatile memory apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the configuration information storage block is divided into a plurality of pages, and each page includes a plurality of nonvolatile memory cells. 
     
     
       3. The nonvolatile memory apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of configuration data groups includes any one of internal bias information, internal logic configuration information, failed address information, and redundancy information. 
     
     
       4. The nonvolatile memory apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the memory device comprises:
 main storage blocks; and 
 a page buffer configured to detect and output data stored in the configuration information storage block and the main storage blocks. 
 
     
     
       5. The nonvolatile memory apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein each of the main storage blocks is divided into a plurality of pages, and each page includes a plurality of nonvolatile memory cells. 
     
     
       6. The nonvolatile memory apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the configuration information processing circuit comprises:
 a control clock output unit configured to output the first control clock signal and the second control clock signal as an output clock signal in response to a first period signal and a second period signal, respectively; and 
 a configuration data processing unit configured to determine majorities of the plurality of configuration data groups sequentially outputted from the memory device, under the control of the output clock signal, and output determination results as a plurality of configuration signals. 
 
     
     
       7. The nonvolatile memory apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the first period signal is a signal which is activated during the first period, and the second period signal is a signal which is activated during the second period. 
     
     
       8. The nonvolatile memory apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the control clock output unit comprises:
 an oscillator configured to generate a reference clock signal in response to a clock enable signal; and 
 a clock dividing section configured to generate the first and second control clock signals by dividing the reference clock signal, and output the first control clock signal and the second control clock signal in response to the first period signal and the second period signal, respectively. 
 
     
     
       9. The nonvolatile memory apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the configuration data processing unit comprises:
 a data multiplexing section configured to perform parallel-to-serial conversion of the configuration data groups to subsequently output; 
 a data determination section configured to determine majorities of signals of the plurality of configuration data groups outputted from the data multiplexing section, under the control of the output clock signal, and output determination results; and 
 a latch section configured to latch the determination results. 
 
     
     
       10. The nonvolatile memory apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the data determination section comprises:
 a plurality of serially coupled D flip-flops configured to latch a plurality of data signals under the control of the output clock signal; and 
 a data combining part configured to determine majorities in the signals stored in the D flip-flops. 
 
     
     
       11. A nonvolatile memory apparatus comprising:
 a power stabilization detection circuit configured to detect when power is stabilized; 
 a control clock output unit configured to output one of a first control clock signal and a second control clock signal having a cycle shorter than the first control clock signal as an output clock signal according to a detection result of the power stabilization detection circuit; 
 a memory device including a configuration information storage block for storing a plurality of configuration data groups and providing the plurality of configuration data groups during a first period of a power-up operation and a second period after the first period; and 
 a configuration data processing unit configured to determine majorities of a plurality of configuration data groups of the plurality of configuration data groups received from the memory device during the first period of the power-up operation, under the control of a first control clock signal, and determine majorities of configuration data groups of the plurality of configuration data groups received from the memory device during the second period after the first period, under the control of a second control clock signal having a cycle shorter than the first control clock signal, and output determination results as a plurality of configuration signals. 
 
     
     
       12. The nonvolatile memory apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the control clock output unit comprises:
 an oscillator configured to generate a reference clock signal in response to a clock enable signal; and 
 a clock dividing section configured to divide the reference clock signal, generate a first counting clock signal, a first latching clock signal having a cycle longer than the first counting clock signal, a second counting clock signal having a cycle shorter than the first counting clock signal, and a second latching clock signal having a cycle longer than the second counting clock signal, and output the first counting clock signal and the first latching clock signal or the second counting clock signal and the second latching clock signal depending upon the detection result of the power stabilization detection circuit. 
 
     
     
       13. The nonvolatile memory apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the configuration data processing unit comprises
 a data multiplexing section configured to perform a function of parallel-to-serial conversion of the configuration data groups to subsequently output; 
 a data determination section configured to determine majorities of signalss of the plurality of configuration data groups which are outputted from the data multiplexing section, under the control of a corresponding counting clock signal and a corresponding latching clock signal; and outputs the determination results; and 
 a latch section configured to latch the determination results. 
 
     
     
       14. The nonvolatile memory apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the data determination section comprises:
 a plurality of serially coupled D flip-flops configured to latch a plurality of data signals under the control of a corresponding counting clock signal; and 
 a data combining part configured to determine majorities in the signals stored in the D flip-flops, under the control of a corresponding latching clock signal. 
 
     
     
       15. The nonvolatile memory apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of configuration data groups includes any one of internal bias information, internal logic configuration information, failed address information, and redundancy information. 
     
     
       16. A method for processing a plurality of configuration data groups during a power-up operation, comprising:
 storing a plurality of configuration data groups from a memory device and providing the plurality of configuration data groups during a first period of the power-up operation and a second period after the first period; 
 determining majorities of configuration data groups of the plurality of configuration data groups outputted during the first period as an initial stage of the power-up operation, under the control of a first control clock signal; and 
 determining majorities of configuration data groups of the plurality of configuration data groups outputted from the memory device during the second period after the first period, under the control of a second control clock signal having a cycle shorter than the first control clock signal. 
 
     
     
       17. The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 discriminating the first period as when power is not stabilized and the second period as when power is stabilized. 
 
     
     
       18. The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the configuration data groups are signals which are stored in a configuration information storage block. 
     
     
       19. The method according to  claim 16 , wherein each of the configuration data groups includes any one of internal bias information, internal logic configuration information, failed address information, and redundancy information.